The Town of Islip currently operates a compost facility on a 40-acre site along the northern perimeter of MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma. The facility accepts yard waste, including grass*, leaves, tree and brush material brought to the facility by landscapers and residents. Vehicles entering the Compost Facility are directed over an inbound scale where they are weighed-in and advised where to dump their debris or pick-up compost and wood mulch. Upon exiting, vehicles dropping off debris must return to the outbound scale where the operator will inform the driver of the weight of materials dumped and the fees incurred, if any.

The mixed yard waste is shredded and processed into a rich soil conditioner called compost. Compost can be mixed with subsoils to produce topsoil. It can improve water retention in sandy soils and increase permeability to water and air in clay soils. When mixed with soils, it extends fertilizers by holding the nutrients in the soil and making them available for continued plant use. Shredded tree material is processed into wood mulch, which enhances landscape beauty and keeps weeds under greater control.

Compost and wood mulch are available for pickup, free of charge, to all Islip residents with their own shovels and containers. Compost and wood mulch are available for purchase by commercial customers. Residents and commercial customers can have compost and wood mulch loaded into their vehicles for $14/yard.